Shorts decision could come soon

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts III not improving and may miss the rest of the season, Head Coach Gus Bradley says.

JACKSONVILLE – Cecil Shorts III hasn’t been officially ruled out for the final two weeks.

But listening to Shorts and Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley Monday, it’s clear there’s a possibility the third-year veteran wide receiver has played his final game of the 2013 season.

It’s also clear the possibility is a pretty good one.

“Probably that’s the best thing,” Shorts said Monday. “We have an idea what we’re going to do. That’s probably the best thing, honestly.”

Shorts, the Jaguars’ leading receiver this season, missed Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills with a groin injury that bothered him much of the season and grew worse after he played on three days’ rest against Houston on Thursday, December 5.

Bradley on Monday said the area didn’t improve over the weekend.

Bradley said he, Shorts and General Manager David Caldwell will discuss the situation Monday afternoon or Tuesday. Shorts said he didn’t want to discuss details publicly until that conversation.

“I think we have more concern with the injury now,” Bradley said. “That’s what Dave and I and Cecil will talk about. We’re starting to figure out he’s such a strong competitor that he wants to play and he wants to do it, but I think the longer we’re around him you can sense maybe when it’s really bothering him. I think he’s at that point right now.”

Shorts practiced briefly Friday and said he was only able to work about four or five plays. At that point, he felt no power or explosiveness, but did feel pain.

“It wasn’t good Friday,” he said.

Shorts has caught 66 passes for 777 yards and three touchdowns this season, and caught a touchdown pass in each of the last two games before Sunday.

“It’s frustrating, but me being frustrated and down is not going to change anything,” Shorts said. “I might as well stay upbeat and be there for the team however I can. Guys talked to me last week about how it’s OK to be frustrated, but you can’t be down about it.

“You have to rise from it and get back positive. That’s what I’m trying to do is to stay positive. If the decision is made that I’m done for the year, then that’s the case.”